difficult to see how any such power coula come within the definition already accepted by the War office, who have agreed that the only powers wich Article 3 (1) of the Order in Council
gives to the militar; authorities over the civil population are powers which the Army Act give over camp followers.
I think we might point out as above to the War Office, and say that in any case the Army Council appear to agree that no special legislation on the lines desired by the G.0.0.
That twe
is immediately necessary in Hong Kong, and/wold thepre propose, with their concurrence, to inform the Governor of Hong Kong accordingly, and we might submit a telegram for concurrence.
With regard to the general questions raised in the last paragraph of the letter.where the War Office propose that we should introduce legislation which woula, in case of emergency, give to the competent naval and military authorities in the Crown colonies powers analogous to those com-
ferred by the Defence of the Realm Act and Regulations, this is a matter of considerable importance and I think that we should settle the Hong Kong difficulty before dealing with it. It will probably be necessary in the first instance to get the views of the Geographical Departments,
and we shall have to consider the state of the lay
at the present time in the various Crowa colonies.
I submit a draft to the War Office
replying to their letter with regard to Hong Kong
on the lines suggested above, and stating that a
further
308
further communication in regard to paragraph 7 of
their letter will be addressed to them later.
·
13.4.
Hhink it is clear that and I of the
Que will have to be overhauled so m
to fint the authority of the O.C. the troop
orce the civilian population
on a clear footing. But this must noth rested.
1
The Dinic affiles and, to the scheduled
colonus, at Osic in similar terms have I think been sunctid for other
- or other colomes have been
colonus
added to the scheetah hot
Thereston must thenfer to considered
fist with refuses to the colomes to which An apples, and their
t
II
with reference to other colonies
Juu it
lo descritte tö
ما
settle the question which has
12 # A W.D. Jind <gy 7
4
Crew racsad
TAVC
lemmip. with W.D. to Alm. in refoly Ito 1.782 Then /14. n.
Reached Gene Deft
www
G. D.
20 APR
13-
JR 14/4/15